“My son joined me the other day, which I believe you know; I should have put him on my staff had I remained in command of the army. I have some idea of sending him to the Grand Prince, where he would be of use; but I fear it might create jealousies. I hope your Lordship will order him the same fit-out and allowances with the other officers. I wrote to Sir John Macdonald; at my request he sent him to me, and it would be hard if he was put to personal expenses. “The weather is still fine; but if a movement does not take place at once, it will be too late, and the troops must remain in garrison all the winter. Ibrahim will probably establish his head-quarters at Balbeck, if he intends remaining in Syria; but as he has given up the north, and lost Acre, I do not see what he is to gain by remaining in this country. “We hear the French fleet are gone to Toulon; I fear they are up to some mischief. If this is true, we ought to be at Malta; but we never can, with our present force, watch both the French and Egyptians. I do not, however, apprehend the latter will proceed to sea; if they do, I shall see what I can make of them. I believe the best thing to settle this affair would be at once to say to Mehemet Ali, 'Withdraw from Syria, and give up the Turkish fleet, and you shall keep Egypt.' If your Lordship and the allies have any notion of that, try me as a negotiator with six sail of the line, which I am to have, and I dare say I should succeed. I believe Egypt would be just as well governed by him, as it would be by one of the Turkish Pachas; he is an old man, and it is hardly worth while risking a European war to turn him out. “I have the honour to remain, &c., “CHARLES NAPIER.” “To the Right Hon. Lord Palmerston.” “P.S. If your Lordship expects a French war, for God’s sake full man the ships, or we shall meet with disasters. I have frequently written on this subject, both to Parker and Lord Minto.” I next wrote as follows to Lord Minto:— “H.M.S. Powerful, Beyrout, November 14, 1840. “My Lord, “I learn, with great pleasure, from Sir William Parker, that my son is to be employed, for which I beg to thank your Lordship. The defeat of Ibrahim Pacha has led to greater events than I was aware of when I last wrote to your Lordship. It appears that he immediately sent orders to evacuate all the north, and blow up the batteries in the passes; at the same time he evacuated Tripoli. * * * * * “Ibrahim is now at Zachle with about 12,000 men, including 3000 cavalry. I believe there is some intention of moving, but I fear it will be too late, as the rains are expected every day. We have had a very fine week, but I do not think a forward movement will take place till the officers arrive from England; it will be then too late.